Near-Expiry Product Clearance Checklist

Reducing Inventory Loss & Maximising Sell-Through with Near-Expiry Clearance

Near-expiry products are a critical operational challenge for retail stores, often leading to avoidable wastage and revenue loss. A structured near-expiry clearance process enables retailers to take timely action on products approaching expiry and ensure expired products never reach customers.
The Near-Expiry Product Clearance Checklist helps store teams systematically identify near-expiry items, execute clearance actions, and maintain compliance across shelves, backrooms, and systems.

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Near-Expiry Product Clearance Checklist

1. Are near-expiry products identified based on defined expiry thresholds?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

2. Are near-expiry items flagged during daily or periodic checks?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

3. Are high-risk and fast-moving categories prioritised for near-expiry review?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

4. Are near-expiry quantities verified against system inventory?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

5. Are near-expiry items communicated to the store manager or supervisor?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

Pricing & Promotion Impact

1. Are near-expiry products marked for discount or clearance pricing?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

2. Are discount levels applied as per company clearance policy?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

3. Are clearance prices updated correctly in the system and POS?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

4. Are near-expiry products included in in-store promotions where applicable?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

5. Are promotional timelines defined for near-expiry clearance?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

Shelf & Display Impact

1. Are near-expiry products placed in clearly visible clearance areas?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

2. Are near-expiry products segregated from regular-priced items?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

3. Are expiry dates clearly visible on clearance products?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

4. Are clearance displays checked daily for expired products?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

5. Are FIFO principles followed during clearance execution?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

Back Store Impact

1. Are near-expiry products segregated in the backroom?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

2. Are expired products removed immediately from backroom storage?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

3. Are near-expiry products prioritised for shelf replenishment?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

4. Is backroom stock organised by expiry date?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

5. Are damaged or unsellable near-expiry items separated?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

System & Compliance Impact

1. Are near-expiry clearance actions updated in the inventory system?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

2. Are expired products recorded for disposal or return?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

3. Are clearance sales tracked separately for reporting?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

4. Are recurring near-expiry issues analysed and reported?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

5. Are clearance activities reviewed during audits or inspections?

   ☐ Yes
   ☐ No

If No, Reason: ________________________________________________

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